##Status: Full Time (In Office)

##Reporting to: Director, Finance

##Location: Ottawa, ON

About Lee Valley:

Since 1978, Lee Valley has recognized that for many, woodworking and gardening are more than just hobbies. Lee Valley Tools enjoys a proud history of providing high-quality woodworking, gardening, hobby, hardware, gift and seasonal merchandise to customers worldwide. We pride ourselves on providing quality products and renowned customer service.

Lee Valley has been honored with many prestigious awards, including being recognized as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies by Deloitte. Additionally, we ranked #1 for In-Store Experience in Ontario by Leger Marketing Inc.

A position at Lee Valley is more than just a job – we honor the time and dedication that our people give by providing sustained and meaningful employment while striving to provide an environment where learning and development are encouraged.

###Overview

Reporting to the Director, Finance, the Senior Payroll Specialist plays an important role in ensuring our employees are paid accurately, on time, and in a way that reflects the care and attention to detail that defines Lee Valley.

Supporting both our Canadian and U.S. operations, this role is responsible for the full-cycle administration of payroll while ensuring compliance with all applicable legislation. As a trusted partner to Finance and People & Culture, the Senior Payroll Specialist brings both expertise and a thoughtful, service-oriented approach to their work.

In addition to payroll processing, this role supports the administration of our benefits and retirement programs as they relate to payroll and contributes to the continuous improvement of our processes, systems, and practices. At Lee Valley, this role is more than transactional—it is about supporting a consistent and reliable employee experience grounded in accuracy, integrity, and care.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Administration

• Administer and process full-cycle payroll for all employees, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with applicable federal, provincial/state, and local regulations.
• Act as the internal subject matter expert on payroll legislation, advising Finance and People & Culture on compliance requirements and implications of policy or program changes.
• Review, validate, and audit payroll reports to ensure data integrity, accuracy, and completeness prior to processing.
• Manage all year-end payroll activities, including reconciliations, remittances, and issuance of T4s and Records of Employment (ROEs).
• Oversee and process statutory remittances including CRA, Revenue Québec, IRS (as applicable), WSIB, and other regulatory bodies.
• Prepare and analyze regular payroll reporting (monthly, quarterly, annual), identifying trends, discrepancies, and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead quarterly payroll and benefits audits to ensure accuracy, compliance, and strong internal controls.
• Maintain accurate and auditable payroll records in accordance with statutory, financial, and internal audit requirements.
• Track, validate, and reconcile attendance and timekeeping data across business units.
• Partner with HR to ensure accurate and timely processing of employee lifecycle changes (hires, terminations, promotions, transfers, and compensation adjustments).
• Support the annual compensation review process, including validation of salary changes, and retroactive adjustments.
• Respond to employee payroll and benefits inquiries with a high level of professionalism, confidentiality, and service.

Process Improvement & Systems

• Look for thoughtful ways to improve payroll processes, ensuring they are efficient, reliable, and easy to maintain over time.
• Support the effective use of payroll and HRIS systems (including ADP Workforce Now), ensuring data accuracy and consistency.
• Contribute to system updates, enhancements, or implementations related to payroll and benefits.
• Develop and maintain clear, practical payroll procedures that support consistency and continuity.

Group Benefits and Retirement Administration

• Support the administration of group benefits and retirement programs as they relate to payroll, ensuring accurate deductions, remittances, and reporting.
• Assist in the annual benefits enrollment process, including system updates, employee communications, and payroll setup.
• Process and reconcile monthly benefit and pension remittances, including adjustments related to salary changes or eligibility updates.
• Partner with the Director, Finance on annual pension filings and reporting requirements.
• Ensure all benefit plan rates and changes are accurately reflected in the HRIS/payroll system.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure ongoing compliance with all applicable payroll legislation across Canada and the U.S., including tax regulations, employment standards, and reporting requirements.
• Support internal and external audits by preparing documentation, reports, and responding to auditor inquiries.
• Monitor legislative changes and proactively recommend updates to payroll practices, policies, and systems.
• Ensure confidentiality, security, and proper handling of sensitive payroll and employee data in accordance with privacy legislation.

Knowledge and Skills

• Post-secondary education in Payroll, Finance, Accounting, or a related field.
• PCP or CPM designation (or working towards) is strongly preferred.
• 5+ years of Canadian and U.S. payroll experience in a complex, multi-jurisdictional environment.
• Deep knowledge of payroll legislation across Canadian provinces and U.S. jurisdictions.
• Proficiency with payroll systems, particularly ADP Workforce Now.
• Advanced Excel skills (e.g., pivot tables, lookups, data analysis) and strong proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills with a high attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple payrolls with varying tax treatments, deductions, and compliance requirements.
• Experience managing year-end payroll processes, including T4s, Relevé 1, W-2s, WSIB, and other regulatory filings.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize competing deadlines.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate cross-functionally.
• High level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Bilingual in English and French (spoken and written) is an asset.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Lee Valley, we are proud to celebrate and foster a diverse team of professionals. We take pride in nurturing an inclusive culture that empowers our people to be their authentic selves, celebrate their differences and love where they work. Our diverse community combined with our inclusive culture, is what sets us apart in the industry.

We encourage all candidates to apply for job opportunities with Lee Valley regardless of race, national origin, colour, religion, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital and family status, or disability.

Our Approach to Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment

We believe that hiring decisions should be grounded in human judgment, thoughtful evaluation, and meaningful dialogue. At Lee Valley, we do not use artificial intelligence tools to screen, rank, or make automated decisions about candidates. All applications are reviewed by members of our hiring team, and selection decisions are made through human assessment and professional judgment.

We are committed to a fair, transparent, and equitable recruitment process where candidates are evaluated based on their experience, skills, and potential — not by automated systems.

Accommodation Requests

If you require accommodation during the recruitment and selection process, please do not hesitate to reach out.

How to Apply:

Please visit our careers page at https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/careers

We thank all applicants, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.